This month and next month, I have no traveling gigs. There are no presentations. No guest conducting events. No appearances for premieres or workshops with local choirs. While missing out on some great opportunities, I was so certain of my would-be exhaustion in this season that said “no” and scheduled a season for replenishment.

And guess what?

I’m not tired. At all.

In 2018, I had a profound experience conducting the Northwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association High School Tenor-Bass Honor Choir in Portland, Oregon.

As an undergraduate music theory student, I took my reserved seat on the struggle bus…